{"id":2446771,"date":"2026-06-05T18:53:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T18:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2446771"},"modified":"2026-06-05T18:53:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T18:53:01","slug":"jon-wertheim-lesley-stahl-bill-whitaker-break-silence-on-60-minutes-firings-were-still-deeply-upset","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/jon-wertheim-lesley-stahl-bill-whitaker-break-silence-on-60-minutes-firings-were-still-deeply-upset\/","title":{"rendered":"Jon Wertheim, Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker break silence on \u201c60 Minutes\u201d firings: &#8216;We\u2019re still deeply upset&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">Key Points<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim are speaking out on <em>60 Minutes <\/em>following several recent firings, including colleague Scott Pelley.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Newsrooms are not supposed to be run like dictatorships. Collaboration and argument are the way we have always worked at <em>60<\/em>,&#8221; the journalists said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The journalists also reveal whether or not they are leaving the show.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/movies\/marcel-the-shell-with-shoes-on-lesley-stahl-interview\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Lesley Stahl;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Lesley Stahl&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Lesley Stahl<\/a>, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim are speaking out following their colleague&#8217;s firing from <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/60-minutes\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:60 Minutes;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;60 Minutes&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><em>60 Minutes<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/davidfolkenflik\/status\/2062926793477071166\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:joint memo;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;joint memo&quot;}\" class=\"link \">joint memo<\/a> shared on Friday reported by multiple outlets, the broadcast journalists addressed the changes happening at the TV news magazine and whether or not they would consider leaving the show as a result.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;We have had a hard time deciding whether to stay at <em>60 Minutes<\/em>. We\u2019re still deeply upset by the firings of Tanya and Draggan, strong leaders who everyone respected,&#8221; they began their statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;As far as we can tell \u2014 because no explanation has ever been offered, they were expelled because they fought for our <em>60 Minutes <\/em>values and stood up to protect our independence and integrity. Newsrooms are not supposed to be run like dictatorships. Collaboration and argument are the way we have always worked at <em>60<\/em>. [<em>60 Minutes <\/em>creator] Don Hewitt actually encouraged loud passionate advocacy for our pieces.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The journalists then acknowledged ousted colleagues <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/scott-pelley-exits-60-minutes-after-criticizing-cbs-news-bosses-11989638\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Scott Pelley;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Scott Pelley&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Scott Pelley<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/60-minutes-journalist-sharyn-alfonsi-loses-cbs-contract-after-bari-weiss-clash-11984892\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Sharyn Alfonsi;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Sharyn Alfonsi&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Sharyn Alfonsi<\/a>, and Cecilia Vega, &#8220;who exemplified <em>60 Minutes<\/em>&#8216; ethos of tough questions and honest storytelling.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Stahl reports from Israel for &#8217;60 Minutes&#8217;<br \/>Credit: CBS News<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;We want to express how sorry we are that these principled, fair and honest journalists were treated so shabbily, with such indecency,&#8221; the journalists continued. &#8220;But, we have decided to stay on. We feared that our returning might be construed as an endorsement of the existing power structure. That is simply, categorically, not the case.&#8221; Stahl, Whitaker, and Wertheim then explained why they decided to stay at <em>60 Minutes<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;We don&#8217;t want to see <em>60 Minutes<\/em> die. We have been grieving because this whole mess has wounded and damaged the broadcast.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Adding, &#8220;We want to stay and fight, to try and repair and preserve our reputation by continuing the Mike Wallace tradition of &#8216;hold their feet to the fire&#8217; as well as Morley&#8217;s brand of quirky off-kilter reports like his on why people in Finland like to tango!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The journalists emphasized their commitment to storytelling on the newsmagazine program. &#8220;If we can continue doing the work that made this show what it is \u2014 committing acts of independent, fearless journalism and storytelling \u2014 we\u2019re here for it. If not, we leave.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Stahl, Whitaker, and Wertheim concluded that they&#8217;re staying with <em>60 Minutes<\/em> for &#8220;the audience, the millions who watch us with a loyal and critical eye&#8230; The thought of abandoning you became unbearable. And of course we&#8217;re staying because this is home.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong><em>Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our <\/em><\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/ew-dispatch-newsletter-11812417\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:EW Dispatch newsletter;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;EW Dispatch newsletter&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><strong><em>EW Dispatch newsletter<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Their statement comes days after Pelley, who had been with <em>60 Minutes <\/em>since 2004, was fired following an explosive staff meeting during which he <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/scott-pelley-says-cbs-news-boss-bari-weiss-murdering-60-minutes-11988527\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:slammed CBS News leadership;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;slammed CBS News leadership&quot;}\" class=\"link \">slammed CBS News leadership<\/a>. Pelley reportedly said during the Monday meeting that editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, who was not present, &#8220;has no qualifications for her job.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;The changes that she&#8217;s made at the <em>Evening News<\/em> have been catastrophic, so why should we expect that any of this is going to be any better?&#8221; Pelley added.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Scott Pelley reports from Northern Iraq for '60 Minutes'Credit: CBS\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/guqcN7_TFJHllYkOqvoqdA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/entertainment_weekly_785\/9181ec4b3d43aab3bf406b1f0ee2cea8\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Scott Pelley reports from Northern Iraq for &#8217;60 Minutes&#8217;<br \/>Credit: CBS<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The following day, <em>60 Minutes<\/em>&#8216; newly appointed executive producer Nick Bilton said to Pelley in a letter reviewed by <em>EW<\/em>, &#8220;Your antipathy to the future of the show has come through loud and clear. And I have heard you. I therefore write on behalf of CBS News to inform you that your employment with CBS is terminated effective immediately.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Pelley&#8217;s ousting comes weeks after <em>60 Minutes <\/em>veteran Tanya Simon, executive editor Draggan Mihailovich, and correspondents Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi were also fired.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/lesley-stahl-bill-whitaker-jon-wertheim-60-minutes-firings-11992043\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Entertainment Weekly;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Entertainment Weekly&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Entertainment Weekly<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Points Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim are speaking out on 60 Minutes following several recent firings, including colleague Scott Pelley. &#8220;Newsrooms are not supposed to be run like dictatorships. Collaboration and argument are the way we have always worked at 60,&#8221; the journalists said. The journalists also reveal whether or not they [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2446772,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[405480,348516,479131,480389,480387,378081,480388,457600,433513],"class_list":["post-2446771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-60-minutes","tag-bill-whitaker","tag-cecilia-vega","tag-dictatorships","tag-jon-wertheim","tag-journalists","tag-lesley-stahl","tag-scott-pelley","tag-sharyn-alfonsi"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Jon-Wertheim-Lesley-Stahl-Bill-Whitaker-break-silence-on-60.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2446771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2446771"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2446771\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2446773,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2446771\/revisions\/2446773"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2446772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2446771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2446771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2446771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}